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The landscape of the NFC West is changing.
According to Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers are sending All Pro defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the 13th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Trade AND deal: Colts trade first-round pick (13th overall) to 49ers for All-Pro DT DeForest Buckner, who already has agreed to a massive contract that pays him $21 million a year and makes him the second-highest paid DT in NFL history behind only Aaron Donald, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
The Colts immediately extended Buckner to the second richest defensive contract in NFL history at $21 million a season, being only surpassed by Aaron Donald.
This, on the heels of the Arizona Cardinals trading David Johnson and a 2020 2nd round pick for DeAndre Hopkins will no doubt reshape the NFC West.
While the 49ers also extended Arik Armstead today for five years and $85 million, they arguably lost the best player on an impressive defense trading away Buckner.
While the duo of Armstead and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa is formidable, it is not quite as imposing as when Buckner is in there.
That’s what happens when you have to pay everyone, someone inevitably gets squeezed out.